Southbridge to raze 11 condemned condos

A condemned row of 11 condominiums that are in danger of collapse will be razed Monday morning, Building Inspector Nicola Tortis said.

The property, at 102-122 Mill St., has been beset by trash, squatters, copper thieves and auto handymen using its backyard as a makeshift garage, Mr. Tortis said.

It was condemned “in bits and pieces” during four years of effort. It is in disrepair and considered a public nuisance, he said.

Ricardo Henriquez bought the 11 units for $380,000 in 2002. He sold each unit for about $95,000.

Town Manager Christopher Clark said it's an example of how greed and corruption by an owner left a town holding an eyesore.

Mr. Clark explained that Mr. Henriquez appeared to have two or three friends, or straw buyers, purchase the first units at an elevated amount of about $100,000 to establish the market and jack up the purchase prices.

Now there is no known association to deal with the condominiums' litany of common-area woes, such as the crumbling foundation made of brick that is better suited for chimneys, a leaking roof and sagging porches.

According to Registry of Deeds records, Mr. Henriquez formed Long River Condominium Trust and was declared the association's trustee in July 2004.

Mr. Clark said it appears Mr. Henriquez took the money and ran.

Efforts to reach Mr. Henriquez at his last known address were unsuccessful.

The town has already spent $23,800 to remove asbestos-contaminated linoleum and $1,300 for the asbestos survey.

The demolition will cost $27,500, for about $52,000 in total costs to be paid from the general fund, Mr. Tortis said.

Stan Kaitbenski Construction Co. of Sturbridge will take the more than 10,000 square foot property down, and E.L. Harvey will take the building waste to its processing facility, Mr. Nicola said.

The town will leave the property as a 3/4-acre, wood-chipped lot, Mr. Clark said.

Mr. Clark said he does not believe the town will ever recoup the demolition costs. The property has about $60,000 owed in back taxes. A developer could buy a similar-size, buildable lot in the Mill Street area for about $40,000.

However, bringing more safety to the neighborhood, which has a 10-unit apartment building across the street, is worth the investment, the town manager said.

The town, in an effort to enhance neighborhoods during the last four years, has razed a burnt building on Coombs Street and dilapidated buildings on High Street and at Caron and Elm streets, a total of 14 units.

The Elm Street building was key because it was one of the first things motorists on Route 198 saw as they crossed the state line into Southbridge's downtown, Mr. Clark said.

Mr. Clark said he has been trying to find additional money to knock down nuisance properties. He had hoped to devote $75,000 to that effort this year, but lesser assistance in the state budget set that back to the $50,000 range.